Lycian Region, Turkey

Lycian Region Beach in Lycian Region, Dalaman, Turkey

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Beaches & adventure

patara beach with 11 miles of golden sand features regularly in brochures as one of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful beaches and was recently voted the 2nd best beach in Europe by The Telegraph. Entrance to the beach is through the ruins of the ancient city of Patara, with a triumphal gate, baths, a theatre and a few temples. At sunset the beach is closed as it is one of the few places in the world where endangered Loggerhead turtles come to lay their eggs.

kaputas a lovely sandy beach is nestled at the foot of a striking mountain gorge. The water is always a brilliant turquoise blue. Kaputas beach is about four and a half miles from Patara Prince hop in a taxi or get a dolomus from Kalkan.

scuba diving - the Mediterranean with its warm, calm, tide free seas with great visibility make this area ideal.

mounting trekking in the mountains of Lycia offers some of the most beautiful scenery in the Taurus range.

paragliding tandem or solo; take a trip to Kas where there is an excellent and well known paragliding centre.

horse riding - the ride begins at the stables in Patara and takes you along the river until you reach the beach, where you have a chance to cool off and have a swim. After this we continue our ride along the country tracks stopping for a while by a lagoon. As the horses tire we make our way back to Patara enjoying the beautiful views of Patara beach.

saklikent gorge is the ideal place to visit if you are feeling especially hot. The gorge is 18km long and so steep and narrow that the sun does not penetrate, so the water is icy cold. The gorge is approached along a wooden boardwalk above the river and opens out to a series of wooden platforms suspended above the water, where you can buy and eat trout at one of the specialist restaurants.


lycian history

xanthos a unesco world Heritage Site and one of the six principal cities of Lycia. Xanthos was the capital city of the Lycian Federation and its greatest city for most of Lycian history.

letoon was the sacred cult centre of Lycia; it’s most important sanctuary and was dedicated to the three national deities of Lycia - Leto and her twin children Apollo and Artemis.

church of st nicholas - Lycia's celebrity. St. Nicholas was a popular bishop at Myra in the 4th century ad, born in Patara between 260 and 280 ad, famous for his miracles and known for his kindness.

myra was a leading city of the Lycian Union and surpassed Xanthos in early Byzantine times to become the capital city of Lycia.

tlos best-known for its fortress-topped acropolis, with its rock-cut tomb-covered sides and its 360 degree panoramic views. As one of the six principal cities of Lycia and one of the most powerful.

sunken city of kekova - along the shore of Kekova Island are Byzantine foundations and ruins, partly submerged in the sea - the Sunken City.